{"id":51879,"date":"2022-05-06T11:01:46","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T23:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=51879"},"modified":"2024-07-12T11:43:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T23:43:15","slug":"join-the-movement-to-support-the-reuse-revolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/join-the-movement-to-support-the-reuse-revolution\/","title":{"rendered":"Join the movement to support the Reuse Revolution!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New Zealand is in a pickle of a jam when it comes to waste and climate emissions, and the public are rightly concerned about it<\/a>. New Zealand isn\u2019t alone – the global \u2018take-make-dispose\u2019 linear economy is breaching all kinds of planetary boundaries<\/a>, leaving resource depletion, pollution, biodiversity loss and global warming in its wake.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s obvious that the way we produce and consume stuff has to change<\/a>, to reduce our insatiable, unsustainable demand on the planet\u2019s resources.<\/p>\n\n

One of the big system shifts we need is to move from throwaway mode towards choosing reuse<\/a> instead. Here in Aotearoa, one organisation pushing for this shift to reuse is Takeaway Throwaways<\/a>.Launched in February 2020, Takeaway Throwaways advocates for all single-use food and drink serviceware to be replaced with accessible reuse systems, across the country. The organisation was founded by everyday New Zealanders – myself and my partner, Liam (we also run a zero waste project called The Rubbish Trip), and Laura Cope, who also runs the Use Your Own Cafe Directory. You can read more about the Takeaway Throwaways team on our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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We’re heading to Parliament!<\/h2>\n\n

On 12 May 2022, the Takeaway Throwaways petition will be delivered to Parliament, and we need your help!<\/p>\n\n

Takeaway Throwaways is petitioning the Government<\/a> to ban a greater range of single-use serviceware, and to do this while also requiring and investing in reusable serviceware systems. <\/p>\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n

Both parts of the petition are equally important<\/strong>. The single-use option must be taken away to give reuse the space to grow, but it\u2019s not enough just to ban things, the reusable alternative also needs to be supported by Government, through targeted policy, regulations, and investment.<\/p>\n\n

Why reuse?<\/h2>\n\n

We set up Takeaway Throwaways because we know that <\/em>effective reuse systems will do more to reduce waste, plastic pollution and emissions than trying to recycle, compost or landfill an endless stream of disposable cups and containers<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

As time goes on, we have become increasingly aware of the potential toxicity of some single-use serviceware<\/a>, and the global lack of regulation to ensure packaging is free of harmful chemicals<\/a>. This has only strengthened our call to replace throwaway items with non-toxic reusables that work for all people. <\/p>\n\n

And it\u2019s not just us having these revelations – increasingly, those working within the hospitality and events sectors recognise the urgency of ditching disposables and embracing reuse. <\/strong>For example, owner-operator of Tuatua Cafe on the Wellington Waterfront, Simon Edmonds, ditched single-use cups in 2020 after \u201ctrying all sorts of incentives to encourage customers to opt not to use throwaways.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\u201cIn the end, the voluntary approach was just taking too long and we were still going through so many throwaway cups, so it was actually a relief just to make the call to stop offering disposable cups.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cI was pleasantly surprised how quickly customers adapted. Mostly customers that asked for takeaway expecting single-use just decided to sit down and have their coffee in a cafe cup, or use one of the mugs from our mug library.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWhile I was willing to take the risk to stop using disposables, and to take the time to build up our mug library, we know things would move much faster cross the hospitality industry if the Government were to signal a ban was coming, and start investing in reuse systems, like the Takeaway Throwaway petition<\/a> calls for.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cI also think the time is right for a move like this – people\u2019s tolerance of single use cups and other disposable takeaway packaging is very close to a tipping point. Businesses also want alternatives. A handful of cafes like ours are starting to tip the scales, but we could move much faster with Government backing to get us to the reuse future.\u201d – Simon Edmond, Tuatua cafe<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"Batman
Some superheroes using the Tuatua Cafe mug library, instead of disposable cups<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Next Thursday we are delivering our petition to Parliament. Hon David Parker, the Minister in charge of waste, has accepted our invitation to receive the petition. The petition is open for signatures up until 11:59pm on Wednesday, 11 May 2022! <\/a><\/p>\n\n

As I write, the petition has received just over 5,000 signatures. We are so stoked! This is already a persuasive number – many policy and law changes have gotten over the line with far fewer signatures.<\/p>\n\n

But, of course, we\u2019d still love more people to sign on, to show the Government how much support exists here in Aotearoa for the reuse revolution! You can help us out by signing the petition<\/a>, and sharing it with your friends and followers to sign too.<\/p>\n\n

The campaign so far<\/h2>\n\n

In addition to our petition, Takeaway Throwaways is working away to support the shift from single-use to reuse, wherever we can, from the grassroots right up to the system level. Our small and mighty team is committed to championing reuse and making it easier for hospo, events and festivals, institutions and everyday humans to ditch single-use. Here are some of the things we\u2019ve worked on in the last two years:<\/p>\n\n